Last modified: 11 February 2024
The country
The emirate is known as the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The emirate is being reigned by the Al Nahyan dynasty.
The origins of Abu Dhabi can be traced to a tribal federation, the Bani Yas, who were in control of the area of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the late 18th century. The emirates were separated in the 19th century. Cultured pearls and since the 1950s also oil are the most important products. In 1966 the British helped Sheikh Zayed becoming the new ruler of Abu Dhabi, replacing his brother Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who didn’t want to invest in the production of oil. Sheikh Zayed was the driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Abu Dhabi is the biggest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
Sovereign
The current sovereign is Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates. He was born in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, on 11 March 1961.
He is a son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates (1918-2004) and his fifth wife Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi (ca. 1940-).
Enthronement
Sheikh Mohammed succeeded his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates after his death on 13 May 2022. He was elected President of the United Arab Emirates by the Supreme Council on 14 May 2022 He had become Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on 2 November 2004.
Other details
The Emir is a Muslim.
Marriage and descendants
Sheikh Mohammed is married since 1980 to Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
Their children:
- Sheikha Mariam. She is married since 2006 to Sheikh Mohammed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. They have two sons: Tahnoun (born 2011) and Zayed (born 2014).
- Sheikh Khaled
- Sheikha Shamsa (born 1984). She is married to Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Nahyan. They have one son, Zayed (born 2005) and three daughters, Hessa (born 2003), Salama (born 2007) and Fatima.
- Sheikh Theyab. He is married since 2013 to Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They have one son, Zayed (born 2019) and two daughters, Fatima (born 2014) and Salama (born 2016).
- Sheikh Hamdan. He is married since 2021 to Sheikha Fakhra bint Khalifa Al Nahyan. They have one son, Mohammed (born 2022).
- Sheikha Fatima (born 1989). She is married since 2012 to Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. They have three sons, Mohammed (born 2012), Saif (born 2014) and Zayed (born 2018), and one daughter, Mariam (born 2023).
- Sheikha Shamma (born 1992). She is married to Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. They have one son, Hamdan (born 2023).
- Sheikh Zayed (born 1995)
- Sheikha Hessa (born 2001)
- (adopted) Amina
- (adopted) Salha
Heir to the throne
The heir to the throne is Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. He was born in Abu Dhabi on 8 January 1982. He is Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi since 29 March 2023.
He is a son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates and his wife Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
The Crown Prince is married since 2008 to Sheikha Fatima bint Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
Their children:
- Sheikha Shamma (born 2011)
- Sheikh Mohammed (born 2013, twin)
- Sheikha Salama (born 2013, twin)
Postal address
Presidential Palace
Ras Al Akhdar
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Succession
Abu Dhabi is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. I am not quite sure how the position of Emir is inherited. It however looks like the rule passes to the sons of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and probably afterwards the sons of his sons.
Titles
The emir is His Highness Sheikh .. (first name) bin .. (name of his father) Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi. The heir to the throne is His Highness Sheikh .. (first name) bin .. (name of his father) Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Rulers of Abu Dhabi
| Dhiyab bin Isa Al Nahyan (-1793) | 1761-1793 |
| Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan (-1816) | 1793-1816 |
| Muhammad bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1818) | 1816-1818 |
| Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan | 1818-? |
| Tahnoun bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1833) | 1818-1833 |
| Khalifa bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1845) | 1833-1845 |
| Sultan bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1845) | 1833-1845 |
| Isa bin Khalid Al Nahyan | 1845 |
| Dhiyab II bin Isa Al Nahyan | 1845 |
| Saeed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan | 1845-1855 |
| Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (1840-1909) | 1855-1909 |
| Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1857-1912) | 1909-1912 |
| Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (-1922) | 1912-1922 |
| Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (-1926) | 1922-1926 |
| Saqr bin Zayed Al Nahyan (-1928) | 1926-1928 |
| Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1905?-1989) | 1928-1966 |
| Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918?-2004) | 1966/1971-2004 |
| Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948-2022) | 2004-2022 |
| Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1961- ) | 2022- |
Links
- United Arab Emirates
- The United Arab Emirates’ Government portal
- UAE Cabinet
- Crown Prince Court
- His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Twitter
- Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Instagram
- Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Mother of the Nation
- Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
- The Holding Company of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
- Our Allegiance to Sheikh Khalifa
- The Founder’s Memorial
- Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation
- Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation
- Qasr Al Muwaiji